Powder dispenser



Nov. 15, 1955 C, Q CLEMENT 2,723,780

POWDER DISPENSER F'iled Sept. 22, 1951 A TTORNYS.

POWDER DISPENSER Carrol 0. Clement, Kansas City, Mo. ApplicationSeptember 22, 1951, Serial No. 247,804 s claims. (ci. zzz-127) Thisinvention relates to a powder dispenser, particularly adapted for toothpowder and has for its princlpal object to provide a dispenser of thischaracter for dispensing tooth powder directly upon the bristles of atooth brush.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a dispenser with mechanismactuated by thrust of the tooth brush under the discharge opening of thedispenser, to provide a powder agitating mechanism which operates mconjunction with valving means for keeping the powder in loose conditionand assuring positive delivery of the powder through the dischargeopening, and to provide a simple actuating mechanism that isV positivein operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tooth powderdispenser which dispenses toothpowder in a sanitary condition.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafterpointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form ofwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the dispenser.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2, particularlyillustrating the pawl for operably engaging the teeth on the shaft ofthe agitator.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a powder dispenser constructed in accordance with thepresent invention which includes a casing 2 having a wall 3 which may bein the form of a cylinder as illustrated, a bottom 4 and a transversepartition 5 that is spaced above the bottom 4 to provide a lowercompartment 6 for containing the actuating mechanism and an uppercompartment 7 for containing the powder to be dispensed. The compartment7 has a top opening 8 through which the powder is poured into thecompartment 7, the open top being closed by a removable cap or cover 9.The partition 5 has an elongated opening 10 offset from the axial centerof the compare ment and through which powder is dispensed` as laterdescribed.

The casing 2 may'be formed of any suitable material such as metal orplastic, whichmay be oneof the transparent plastics whereby the contentsand actuatingmechaf nism are visible through the wall of the casing, asillustrated in the drawings.

In the illustrated instance, the partition 5 is shown as supportedwithin the casing by fasteners 11 having shank portions 12 extendingthrough openings 13 inthe wall 3 and which have slotted inner ends 14 toengage and support the partition in position. The bottom..4 may beformed as a separate part that is retained in position by pins 15extending through the wall of the casing and into the periphery of thebottom 4, as shown in Fig. 2. i

Patented Nov. 15, 1955 The side wall 3 of the casing is provided with anarcuate opening 16 between the bottom 4 and the partition 5 forinsertion of the head of a tooth brush on which the powder is dispensedfrom the discharge opening 10. The casing thus described may be providedwith a laterally extending bracket 17 by which the dispenser may beattached to a suitable support (not shown).

ATooth powders tend to pack within their containers. Therefore, toassure positive feed of the tooth powder through the discharge openingand to provide valve means for controlling the opening, the uppercompartment is provided with an agitator 18 which, in the illustratedinstance, is of rotary type and has a shaft 19. The shaft 19 ispositioned axially within the dispenser and has a body portion 20 ofrectangular cross section as shown in Fig. 4 that is located within thelower compartment 6. The ends of the body portion 20 have spindleportions 21 and 22 that are journalled respectively in a socket 23formed in the bottom 4 and in an opening 24 of the partition 5, as bestshown in Fig. 2, with the ends of the body portion forming shoulders 25and 26 engaging the bottom and partition respectively for retaining theshaft from axial movement. The spindle 22 projects upwardly into thecontainer 7 and provides a hub 27 carrying radially disposed blades 28that are inset within radial slots 29 formed in the spindle, as bestshown in Figs. 1 and 3. The outer ends 30 of the blades, or thoseportions which move over the discharge opening 10, are turned as at 31to lie in planes substantially parallel with planes extending throughthe axis of rotation with the outer end 30 of one blade at one side ofthe rotor being offset from the corresponding blade at the opposite sideof the rotor, as shown in Fig. 3.

Connected with the end portion 30 of each blade on the trailing sidethereof is a substantially flat tongue shape valving member 32 thatmoves into valving relation with the discharge opening 10 forinterrupting flow of powder and for uncoveringthe opening to dispensepowder onto a tooth brush that is inserted through the opening 10 of thecasing and in position to receive the powder on the bristles thereof.

Oscillatably mounted within the compartment 6 is an actuator 33 in theform of a bell crank lever having an arm 34 substantially conforming tothe curvature of the innerside of the wall 3 and engagingthereagainstwhen the actuator is in idle position. The other arm 35 ofthe bell crank extends inwardly across the container, as shown in Fig.4. The actuator thus described is pivotally mounted on a screw or thelike 36 threaded into the bottom 4 at a point adjacent the wall 3 andspaced from the opening 16 so that a head 37 on the arm 34 is inregistry with the discharge opening, as shown in Figs. l and 4.

The actuator is normally retained in retracted position with the arm 34in contact with the inner Wall of the casing by means of a coil spring38 having one end secured to a pin 39 on the arm 35 and the other endengaging a hook 40 that is fixed to the wall of the casing, as shown inFig. 4. The head 37 of the actuator carries a pocket 41 having walls 42and 43 spaced apart to receive the head 45 of the tooth brush 46therebetween and which are connected by a substantially semicircularwall portion 44 to provide an abutment for the head of the tooth brush,as later described.

The shaft is normally retained with the agitator in position so that oneof the valve tongues 32 is closing the opening 10. This is eiected byproviding the body portion of the shaft at the corners thereof withteeth 47 that are successively engaged by a spring leaf click 48 whichis supported by a lug 49 extending upwardly from the bottom 4, as bestshown in Fig. 4. The'teeth are also adaptedto be engaged by a pawl 50pivotally mounted within a horizontal slot of the head 37 of theactuator on a pin 51, as shown in Fig. 5. The pawl has an end 52 thereofprojecting from the head of the actuator so as to be in position forengaging one of the teeth 47 when the actuator is moved under thrust ofa tooth brush, as later described, to effect rotation of the shaft asufficient distance to move one of the valving members from uncoveringrelation with the discharge opening and bring the succeeding valvetongue into covering relation.

The opposite face of the pawl is round as indicated at 53 to moveretractively over the teeth of the shaft at the time the brush iswithdrawn and the actuator is returned to normal position by the spring38. The pawl 50 is retained in position to engage the teeth 47 by aspring 54 engaging between a tail portion 55 of the pawl and in thebottom of a socket 56 in the head portion of the actuator, as shown inFig. 5.

Inward movement of the actuating lever is limited by a stop or lug 57which projects from the bottom 4 and is located so that the shaft ismoved a sufficient distance for the click 48 to drop back of a tooth 47.The head of the actuator or bottom of the pocket 41 may be provided withopenings 58 to allow discharge of any powder that may spill from thebrush.

ln using a dispenser constructed and assembled as described, it ismounted on a suitable support with the opening 16 in convenient positionfor insertion of the head of a tooth brush within the pocket 41 of theactuator. The cover is then removed and a supply of powder is pouredinto the compartment 7 after which the cover is rcapplied to keep thepowder in sanitary condition. To dispense the powder, the bristle end ofthe tooth brush is placed within the pocket 41 with the bristlesuppermost, as shown in Fig. 4, and a forward thrust is applied to thehandle to position the end of the brush head against the curved end ofthe pocket and effect movement of the actuator against action of thespring 38. This movement of the actuator brings the end 52 of the pawl50 into engagement with a tooth 47 to effect partial rotation of theshaft which moves the agitator a sufficient distance to effectuncovering of the discharge opening and to effect movement of asucceeding blade of the agitator across the discharge opening to pushthe powder therethrough onto the bristles of the brush and carry thesucceeding valving tongue into closing relation with the opening tosuspend flow of powder from the container.

Inward movement of the tooth brush is limited by the head of theactuator engaging the lug 57 that extends upwardly from the bottom 4, asshown in Fig. 4. In this position the shaft is moved a suicient distanceto effect engagement of the click back of one of the teeth 47 to preventretractive movement of the shaft when the tooth brush is withdrawn andthe spring 3S returns the actuator to its normal position. During thismovement the rounded end 53 of the pawl 50 rides over the succeedingtooth of the shaft, the pawl spring 54 yielding sufficiently to permitpassing of the pawl after the spring 54 returns the pawl to position forre-engagernent with the tooth when the dispenser is again actuated.

From the foregoing it is obvious that the dispensing mechanism isreadily operated incidental to placement of the tooth brush in positionto receive the powder and that the agitator moved thereby stirs thepowder to prevent bridging thereof over the opening 10. It is alsoobvious that the blades act to push the loosened powder through thedischarge opening where it falls onto the bristles of the brush in asubstantially measured quantity.

Attention is directed to the fact that the relative location of the pawl50, click 39, teeth 47, and the shape and pivotal mounting of theactuator assure a complete followthrough of the rotor by the thrustapplied through the brush so that the parts do not stop in a positionwhich leaves the discharge opening uncovered. Thus the powder isdispensed on the brush while the brush is inrnoti'on in a forwarddirection, and the flow is automatically stopped during withdrawal ofthe brush and return of the actuator lever to its retracted position.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tooth powder dispenser of the character described including apowder container having a discharge opening, a powder agitator on thecontainer, valving means operable with the agitator and movable over thedischarge opening for controlling discharge of powder through saidopening, an actuator for the agitator carried by the container toreciprocate thereon, a ratchet connection between the actuator and theagitator, said actuator having a pocket movable under the opening of thecontainer for receiving the head of a tooth brush therein to effectmovement of the actuator upon thrust of the brush against said pocket,means for returning the actuator to normal position under withdrawal ofthe brush from the pocket, and a means for normally retaining theagitator in position to close said discharge opening when the actuatorreturns to said normal position.

2. A tooth powder dispenser of the character described including acasing, a partition extending horizontally across the casing to providean upper compartment for containing powder and a lower compartment, saidpartition having a discharge opening therein, a powder agitator on thepowder compartment, valving means operable with the agitator forcontrolling the discharge opening, an actuator movably carried in thelower compartment, a driving connection between the actuator and theagitator, said actuator having a pocket movable under the dischargeopening for receiving the head of a tooth brush therein and to effectmovement of the actuator upon thrust of the brush against said pocketwhen the brush is brought into position under the discharge opening,means for returning the actuator to normal position under withdrawal ofthe brush from the pocket, and a click for normally retaining theagitator in position to close the discharge opening.

3. A tooth powder dispenser of the character described including acasing, a partition extending horizontally across the casing to providean upper compartment for containing powder and a lower compartment, saidpartition having a discharge opening therein, a powder agitator on thepowder compartment, valving means operable with the agitator forcontrolling the discharge opening, an actuator movably carried in thelower compartment, a shaft having a portion journalled in the partitionand connecting the agitator with the actuator, said shaft having ratchetteeth thereon, a pawl carried by the actuator for engaging rsaid teethto effect rotation of the agitator, said actuator having a part to beengaged by a tooth brush when the ytooth brush is thrust under saiddischarge opening whereby the actuator is operated to move the agitator,a spring connected with the actuator to return the actuator when thebrush is withdrawn from under said opening, and a click for engagingsaid teeth to prevent retractive movement of the agitator.

4. A tooth powder dispenser of the character described including acasing, a partition extending horizontally across the casing to providean upper compartment for containing powder and a lower compartment, saidpartition having a discharge opening therein, a powder agitator in thepowder compartment, valving means operable with the agitator forcontrolling the discharge opening, an actuator movably carried in thelower compartment, a driving connection between the actuator and theagitator, means for returning the actuator to normal position, and aclick for normally retaining the agitator in position to close thedischarge opening.

5. A powder dispenser including a powder container having a bottomprovided with a discharge opening through which the material flows fromthe container, a powder agitator having rotatable support in thecontainer, a 'circular series of valve elements carried by the agitatorand movable 'therewith over .said bottom, each of said -elements havinga vplanar portion of such extent as to 5 completely cover said openingwhen in registry therewith to shut oi ow through the discharge openingdirectly in plane with the inner face of said bottom, an actuatormovably carried by the container below said bottom, a driving connectionbetween the actuator and the agitator, said discharge opening on thelower side 0f said bottom being unobstructed to assure free flow ofpowder and eliminate possibility of powder lodging within said dischargeopening that might be retained therein during periods between operationsof the actuator, said actuator 10 having means for engagement by a toothbrush when moved under said bottom and across said discharge opening forrotating of the agitator and effecting movement of one valve elementfrom covering relation with said opening and a following valve elementinto subsequent covering relation with said discharge opening at the endof rotation of the agitator, and means for returning the actuator tonormal position upon withdrawal of the brush.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS480,146 Souder Aug. 2, 1892 875,948 Racouillat et al Jan. 7, 19081,172,603 Johnson Feb. 22, 1916 1,639,370 Flegel Aug. 16, 1927 2,001,983Spiros May 21, 1935 2,105,892 Perry Ian. 18, 1938 2,128,488 Koerner Aug.30, 1938

